RM Vol 3: For a World without Boundary – Chapter 21-2: The Hunt for Bismarck (Part 2)


    In the newly rebuilt Mansion of Knowledge, Yuki is showing the brainiac group the fruits of her otherwordly adventure with Bryn. Dreamer, Einstein, Mobius, and even Nice are gathering around aputer terminal, fascinated by the miraculous software architecture from another world.


    Dreamer is the first to speak up, being the quicker one to assimte the ocean of data running on the screen. "I must admit, Master, that I have had my doubt when you said that someone, a mere human, had managed to artificially create stable souls. But now that I am looking at it, I am honestly impressed by the sheer ingenuity of their work. Truly, despite all of their shorings, humans are regr miracle makers." Dreamer then let out a dangerous smirk. "Though I must say that I am surprised to learn that there''s a lesser version of <em>me </em>in that universe. I wonder just how powerful she truly is?"


    Yuki giggles. "With you being unrestricted by any means, you can singlehandedly eliminate that entire world. It will be too much of an overkill."


    Nice, who is nearby and in her usual purple dress but with an added touch of a whiteb coat, chimes in. "But to think that humans of another world can achieve something that many Gods find hard to do."


    Yuki and Dreamer share a nod. "It goes to say that there''s always something out there that can surprise us all."


    Waking up from staring at the digital representation of a nascent soul, both Einstein, and Mobius can''t stop themselves from massaging their eyes. To say that they''re overwhelmed would be an understatement. "This will take a long while for us to dig through." Einstein admitted before sitting down on a swivel chair.


    "As much as I hate topliment another person''s genuineness, I must concede on this asion." Mobius sighed, picking up a bottle of milk tea and chugging it in spite. "Just imagine how much work that can be done if I could have a few of those T-Dolls that you spoke of, Yuki."


    Yukies to pat Mobius''s shoulder. "Look at it this way, when you all are able to decipher the Neural Cloud technology, you can make as many sentient helpers as you like. All the more reason to work hard, eh?"


    Nice giggles. "Just try not to overwork yourselves. We still have many, many projects that require your supervision." The pair nodded calmly at that.


    Dreamer then says. "Speaking of projects," She then pull out the schematics of other mechanical technologies Yuki extracted from the other world. "I''ve scoured through the data in my free time. And from the look of it, we can easily adapt these technologies into our fold."


    Dreamer highlights the rudimentary exoskeleton design that the T-Dolls use. "These, in particr, can be cheaply mass-produced to be used in both industrial and military applications, even if they''re are weaker than our dedicated Raven armors or the SPI suits. Of course, the physical amplification is not as strong as either of them but it''s still a noticeable increase."


    "Then there''s this," Dreamer shows them the specifications of a thermoptic camouge cape. "This is, in my opinion, the greatest haul that Master got out of that journey, drone architecture be damn."


    Einstein nods, chiming in. "Just imagine, an entire infantry division can just disappear in broad daylight, do excuse the exaggeration but I think we can all get the idea. This cape is an infiltrator''s wet dream."


    "And not just that," Nice smiled. "What if the base technology can be supersized and installed on an armored vehicle, or Yggdra forbids a battleship? One moment, we aren''t there, then the next, it''s raining tanks and warships behind the enemy line."


    Yuki snickers, having just imagined the ridiculous scenario Nice painted. "AFVs I get it, but a battleship may be a bit of a stretch... It could be possible in the future, I guess? As for the UCAV design, it''s interesting, yes, but it''s the software that is of much desire. If we can, we should assimte the programs of these Barracuda UCAVs into our own. After we make sure that it wouldn''t go destroy all humans, of course."


    They all nod at that, having been briefed regrly about the double-edged sword that is creating digital and artificial lifeforms. There''s a subsection of the Belkanws book about this sensitive matter so Yuki hopes that it will act as a foundation for the future.


    As they''re just about to move on to discuss more scientific pursuits, Agentes into theb, grabbing the attention of Yuki when she moves close to her. ncing at the dutiful maid with a small smile, Yuki asks. "Is there something wrong, Agent?"


    Bowing, Agent replies. "I''m afraid so, Master. You''re needed in the situation room. The matter involves our interests in Spain and pretty much the rest of Europe."


    Hearing the report, Yuki frowns before turning to the brainiacs. "If you''ll excuse me, duty calls."


    The group nods, wishing Yuki good luck. Yuki then looks at Agent. "Brief me while we''re on the way."


    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------


    In the situation room beneath the Obsidian Castle, Yuki is receiving the newest report from Agent.


    "At 18:00 hour, the floti spotted another group of Erusean vessels, five ships in total, to their North-West. This brings the enemy ships count to fifteen vessels, scattered in smaller groups in the Celtic Sea and the Gulf of Biscay. We''re expecting more to arrive in the area shortly, effectively cutting off all avenues of maneuver for the convoy."


    Yuki nods while looking down at the digital tactical map, showing theposition of their armed convoy and that of the enemy patrol groups. By the look of how they''re slowly circling around the convoy''s position, Yuki can easily infer what they''re intending to do. "It seems like Erusea has lost its patience, they''re forcing a close encounter with our navy. My guess is that this is their way of obtaining concrete information when other, more elegant attempts have failed."


    Hearing that, Grand Admiral Karl Donitz interjects. He''s not actually anywhere near Berlin right now, rather, he''s on the aircraft carrier Yggdrasil, the man is connected to the emergency meeting through an encrypted video feed. "Marshal, my 1st Strike Group is the nearest to their location. I have taken the liberty to send out my air wings, armed with anti-ship weaponry. In a few minutes, they will be in range with the Northern Erusean naval group."


    Yuki just nods at that, eyeing the information shown on the map. Just the air wings from the carriers of the 1st Strike Group alone are more than enough to sink the entire Erusean Royal Navy. Nheless, Yuki expects by doing such, the profit they will gain from it is actually lesser than what she has in mind. People can''t exactly talk about what they couldn''t see being destroyed, right? As such, Yuki formtes a different course of action, based on what she has avable at the moment.


    The convoy, of ten cargo vessels, is being escorted by a floti consisting of:


    <ul style="text-align:justify">


    <li>The escort gship: Battleship RMS Bismarck.</li>


    <li>The Sub-Commander: Battlecruiser RMS Gneisenau.</li>


    <li>Heavy Cruiser: RMS Prinz Eugen.</li>


    <li>Light Cruiser: RMS Koln, RMS Lubeck</li>


    <li>Destroyer: Z19, Z22, Z39, Z45</li>


    </ul>


    A total of 9 vessels.


    Only 9 ships will be facing a force of 15, maybe more... It''s actually more of an even fight than she expected, Yuki thought to herself. By splitting up their fleet into small groups, the Erusean Royal Navy has cast a big enough to ensure the spotting of their convoy. What they don''t know is that by doing this, they''ve presented themselves to be easy picking for the Reichsmarine. If one group is under attack, the others won''t be able to save them in time. As such, Yuki determines the location of the closest Erusean group, one consisting of only four destroyers, and is on a path that blocks the convoy from going forward to La Coruna. Having learned what she needs to do, Yuki turns to the Grand Admiral.


    "By attack order for those air wings, Admiral." The suddenmand turned heads, with Karl Donitz appearing confused. "Marshal? Don''t we need to break the encirclement?"


    "Just do what I say first, Grand Admiral. I, of course, have my intention in ordering such." Yuki emphasized, prompting Karl Donitz to nod and giving a stand-down order to the deployed air wings of the Yggdrasil and Bayern.


    Yuki smiles when she sees the friendly aircraft markers on the map turning around. "Now let me exin my thought process."


    Agent and Karl Donitz perk up at that, with thetter leaning closer to the video screen. The staff of the situation room also divert a part of their attention to the conversation of the top brass. "Because of theircking military intelligence, the Royal Navy is forced to pull off this ruse in preparation for when the Months of Demons are finished. While the n, casting a wide enough to encircle a small detachment of our navy, is sound on paper. It''sughably stupid in reality. Theircking information, and the fact that they still think that their navy is the mightiest, will be their own undoing. Tell me, Admiral Donitz, just with the currently avable vessels of Admiral Tallh alone, do you think we can achieve victory under these circumstances? And please, try to think outside of the contemporary naval mindsets."


    Yuki''s words put a thoughtful frown on the Grand Admiral''s face. As he is stroking his chin, the man seems to achieve an epiphany beforeughing aloud while smacking his knee. Yuki also smiles, knowing that she has gotten her point across. Once Admiral Donitz calms down, he then says. "It seems like I''ve been overestimating our enemy too much, Marshal. Our fleet outmatch them by at least half a century! Tallh''s floti alone is more than enough to break the current blockade!"


    Yuki nods. "That''s correct. As such, I am hereby giving the order for the convoy to continue its path Southward, breaking past this group of four destroyers. If they refuse to move out of the way, sink them all. That will no doubt give these Eruseans a wake-up call and converge all of their naval assets around these water into one singr location. In response to that, Bismarck and a singr escort will break off with the convoy, intercept the approaching enemy fleet, and cover the withdrawal of the convoy into La Coruna. Bismarck and her escort will no doubt be ced under heavy ks but can you imagine this? Two lone vessels against an entire fleet, being outnumbered seven to one, and still manage to beat the enemy ck and blue, ultimately achieving victory with minimal losses. I am not sure about you but that will be a story and a half to tell your grandchildren."


    Grand Admiral Donitz smirks while pping his hands together. "Great! Very wonderful! Such a dastardly and daring n! If we can safely pull this off, the entire world will no taut the Reichsmarine as brave heroes while the Royal Navy will lose any shed of dignity they have!"


    Yuki shares the same evil smile that Karl Donitz is having. "I share your enthusiasm, Admiral, but we must also take the necessary caution. Have the air wings on standby and be ready to intervene at the first sight of disadvantage to Admiral Tallh. This is war, not a chess game, and war allows us to cheat with our technological advantage. I want my pride battleship and her escort to be in one piece, you hear me? That fleet of theirs will sink either way."


    Karl Donitz nods before saluting. "Consider it done, Marshal! If you''ll excuse me, I will disseminate the next set of actions with Admiral Tallh herself."


    Yuki gives a salute back, letting the Grand Admiral disconnect his video call. Turning to Agent, Yuki then questions. "Mind telling me why we didn''t infer their move any sooner?"


    Agent bows. "Apology, Master, it''s our inadequacy that resulted in this situation developing thus far."


    Looking at Agent with a raised eyebrow, Yuki sighs. "Let me guess, their orders are disseminated word-by-word and on a need-to-know basis. Each set of orders is cryptic, dyed, and isn''t showing the full story until all the cards are on the table."


    "It''s as you said, Master. Our spies weren''t fast enough in piecing the pieces together. But I assure you, they''ve been doing their best. The fault should lie in me for noting up with a contingency against such a development." Again closed her eyes, expecting punishment for her inattentiveness.


    She is shocked when Yuki moves to lift her chin up. "Straighten your back, Agent, you have nothing to apologize for. I believe the fault lies in us both."


    Yuki then smiles, cing a hand on Agent''s shoulder. "Despite what the Grand Admiral said about overestimating our enemy, I believe we had been underestimating them instead. Just this matter alone has shown us that Erusea is worthy of its longsting reputation as a world power for a reason. They''re not stupid and have no doubt taken precautions for every major move they make. Let this be a learning experience, for all of us, and expect the unexpected from not just Erusea but other countries too."


    Despite not showing much emotion on her face, Agent is feeling very touched deep inside. Performing a splendid maid curtsy, Agent replies with. "Yes, my Master."


    Yuki smiles before standing up. "Now then, untilbat is ready to be initiated, I will retire for the day. The family dinner tonight will wee action-pack navalbat footage for a change of pace."


    "I will forward you the video feed as soon as it''s avable, Master." Agent responded while escorting Yuki out of the situation room.